Campaign Notebook: Who’s In and Out of CD3?

By Joe Bodell
Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 6:51 am

It’s been a busy week in the 3rd Congressional District. Several candidates have decided not to run, several aren’t yet sure, and a couple are definitely in.

The roundup:

DFL state Sen. Terri Bonoff: Looks like she’s in. Bonoff has hit the ground running, making fundraising calls and culling the fields for activist support among DFL regulars.

GOP state Rep. Erik Paulsen: as the political protege of retiring Congressman Jim Ramstad, Paulsen is in a prime position, and has done nothing so far to deny that he is running and running hard for his former boss’s place in Congress.

DFL state Rep. Melissa Hortman: Hortman provides an interesting dynamic between two DFL state legislators who are also women. Although nothing official has been heard from Hortmann’s support network, a single report early this week indicated that one of Hortman’s two kids recently met with one of Congressman Keith Ellison’s kids and asked what it was like having a parent in Congress.

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek: According to an earlier report from MDE, not yet running, but not yet out either. A run from a public safety official might be somewhat immune to “clear-the-road” pressure from Republican legislative leaders in St. Paul.

DFL state Rep. Steve Simon: Has been showing up to DFL events in and around the third and remains popular with a large segment of the DFL activist base, but it currently appears nothing is official just yet.

GOP state Sen. Geoff Michel: Not running.
DFL attorney Andy Luger: Not running.
DFL state Rep. Maria Ruud: Not only not running, but an unconfirmed report indicated yesterday that Ruud is considering not running for reelection to her Minnetonka/Eden Prairie House seat.

A muddled picture has become a bit clearer, but will continue to solidify in the coming days and weeks.

[Update]: Spoke with a source a good deal closer to Rep. Ruud — the above report is “much ado about nothing” at this point. As of now Team Ruud plans on her running again in 2008.